IN THIS ISSUE: How to speak up for yourself | Make yourself likable in interviews | To get ahead, get feedback from your critics

How to speak up for yourself

Speaking up for ourselves is a lot harder than we often recognize. Our culture is quick to judge people as demanding, bossy, or entitled when they speak up, so in many cases, even when our livelihood or health is at stake, we find it hard to say what we need to say out of fear of “crossing a line” or “speaking out of turn.”

In this inspiring and informative TED Talk from Adam Galinsky, he addresses the different fears we confront when we question our right to speak up for ourselves and characterizes our willingness to assert ourselves as a dynamic and situational. When the right moment calls for it, you can choose to be a “ferocious mama bear” or a “humble advice seeker,” and understanding this fluidity will arm you with confidence and, as Galinsky puts it, fill your days with joy.

The sneaky trick to being likable in interviews

If only getting hired depended just on matching the right qualifications with the right job requirements! But we all know that there's a lot more to it. One of the most important aspects of getting any job is, of course, the interview, where hiring managers are looking for what they can't easily glean from a resume: whether you're a "good fit.”

In this article for Inc.com, J.T. O’Donnell discusses Jonah Berger’s book Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces That Shape Behavior, which provides a guide on how to use mimicry to convince your interviewer that you fit the company’s culture. Pay attention to the level of animation, read facial expressions, and be prepared to get an important edge during your next big interview or pitch.

To get promoted, get feedback from your critics

Are you looking to move up within your field or corporate structure? Well then, consider creating your own personal “board of directors.” Assembling a team of fans, potential sponsors, and yes, critics can provide you with the insight you need to get to the next level of your career or business.

Sabina Nawaz, in this article for Harvard Business Review, briefly describes the benefits of assembling a 6-8 person team for the purposes of your professional and business advancement. Count on fans to kindly critique your work, but demand more specifics from them. Also, demonstrate your worth to those potential sponsors who may be higher up and advocate for you when decision time comes. And finally, bravely ask critics for their input to show your commitment to continuous improvement.

At Cambio Coaching, we're passionate about helping people become more effective by improving their business communication. We think of effective communication as the lubricant of the business engine without which no work gets done. Through these newsletters, we aim to provide you with valuable resources to help you get better business results. Email us to let us know how you're liking the information we're including in the newsletters and how we could provide you with more value.

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